Sunrises and sunsets can bring beauty to any landscape, but after the sun sets our skies also allow us to witness an entirely different space and time. Who hasn’t felt the deep satisfaction of staring into a starry sky during an outdoor camping trip? Stars, planets and even the edge of our galaxy can be seen with the naked eye at night - that is if the sky is dark enough.

Dark skies are becoming so rare that there are only fifteen places in the entire world that have met the requirements so far to become an association-certified International Dark Sky Park. This year Parashant National Monument was added to a collection that includes a handful of notable American wild places, including:

These dark sky parks offer astronomy programs where visitors can learn more about astral bodies and events. The National Parks Service also recommends these places for their amazing starry skies:

Capitol Reef National Park

Great Basin National Park

Denali National Park

Canyonlands National Park

Yellowstone National Park

Bryce Canyon National Park

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Grand Canyon National Park

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument 

Growing populations and urban expansion aren't the only threats to these skies. Energy development with its expansion across the West brings lights with its oil rigs, gas flares and disposal wells. Even if drilling isn't happening on wild lands, lights from those nearby can hinder stunning views of our expansive universe.

Protected lands also mean protected skies. Just like the water these lands may host, dark skies are a dwindling resource that may be more important than we think. In fact, studies on how light affects our sleep have shown that our slumber can be improved by venturing outdoors to places where light pollution is absent.